Ki67, PCNA, and MCM proteins: Markers of proliferation in the diagnosis of breast cancer

Role of lincRNA-Cox2 targeting miR-150 in regulating the viability of chondrocytes in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease characterised by progressive cartilage degradation and inflammation, but the detailed pathogenesis of OA remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the role of long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA)-Cox2 in OA progression and the potential mechanism. An OA mouse model was used for in vivo experiments, and IL-1β-induced injury of mouse chondrocytes was conducted for in vitro experiments. Small interfering (si)-Cox2 was transfected into chondrocytes to elucidate the effect of lincRNA-Cox2 on OA. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR assays were conducted to detect the expression of lincRNA-Cox2 and microRNA (miR)-150. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were analysed based on an MTT assay and annexin V/propidium iodide staining, respectively. Western blotting was performed to evaluate the protein expression levels of Ki-67, PCNA, Bax, cleaved (c)-Caspase-3, c-Caspase-9 and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-associated proteins in chondrocytes. High levels of lincRNA-Cox2 were observed in cartilage tissues of the OA mouse model in vivo. In the in vitro experiments, the expression of lincRNA-Cox2 was increased in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes. Knockdown of lincRNA-Cox2 promoted the proliferation and inhibited the apoptosis of chondrocytes. Mechanistically, lincRNA-Cox2 was found to directly target miR-150, acting as a competing endogenous RNA, and the effect of si-Cox2 on the proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes was reversed by miR-150 inhibitors. Moreover, lincRNA-Cox2 activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to regulate chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis. The present study demonstrated that silencing lincRNA-Cox2 expression plays a protective role in OA by enhancing the proliferation and suppressing the apoptosis of chondrocytes, which is related to increased miR-150 expression and activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Transient astrocyte-like NG2 glia subpopulation emerges solely following permanent brain ischemia

NG2 glia display wide proliferation and differentiation potential under physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we examined these two features following different types of brain disorders such as focal cerebral ischemia (FCI), cortical stab wound (SW), and demyelination (DEMY) in 3‐month‐old mice, in which NG2 glia are labeled by tdTomato under the Cspg4 promoter. To compare NG2 glia expression profiles following different CNS injuries, we employed single‐cell RT‐qPCR and self‐organizing Kohonen map analysis of tdTomato‐positive cells isolated from the uninjured cortex/corpus callosum and those after specific injury. Such approach enabled us to distinguish two main cell populations (NG2 glia, oligodendrocytes), each of them comprising four distinct subpopulations. The gene expression profiling revealed that a subpopulation of NG2 glia expressing GFAP, a marker of reactive astrocytes, is only present transiently after FCI. However, following less severe injuries, namely the SW and DEMY, subpopulations mirroring different stages of oligodendrocyte maturation markedly prevail. Such injury‐dependent incidence of distinct subpopulations was also confirmed by immunohistochemistry. To characterize this unique subpopulation of transient astrocyte‐like NG2 glia, we used single‐cell RNA‐sequencing analysis and to disclose their basic membrane properties, the patch‐clamp technique was employed. Overall, we have proved that astrocyte‐like NG2 glia are a specific subpopulation of NG2 glia emerging transiently only following FCI. These cells, located in the postischemic glial scar, are active in the cell cycle and display a current pattern similar to that identified in cortical astrocytes. Astrocyte‐like NG2 glia may represent important players in glial scar formation and repair processes, following ischemia.

JFK Is a Hypoxia-Inducible Gene That Functions to Promote Breast Carcinogenesis

Many carcinomas feature hypoxia, a condition has long been associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis, as well as resistance to chemoradiotherapy. Here, we report that the F-box protein JFK promotes mammary tumor initiation and progression in MMTV-PyMT murine model of spontaneous breast cancer. We find that JFK is inducible under hypoxic conditions, in which hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1α binds to and transcriptionally activates JFK in breast cancer cells. Consistently, analysis of public clinical datasets reveals that the mRNA level of JFK is positively correlated with that of HIF-1α in breast cancer. We show that JFK deficiency leads to a decrease in HIF-1α-induced glycolysis in breast cancer and sensitizes hypoxic breast cancer cells to ionizing radiation and chemotherapeutic treatment. These results indicate that JFK is an important player in hypoxic response, supporting the pursuit of JFK as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer intervention.

Genome Instability-Derived Genes Are Novel Prognostic Biomarkers for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive disease. Recent studies have identified genome instability-derived genes for patient outcomes. However, most of the studies mainly focused on only one or a few genome instability-related genes. Prognostic potential and clinical significance of genome instability-associated genes in TNBC have not been well explored.

Methods

In this study, we developed a computational approach to identify TNBC prognostic signature. It consisted of (1) using somatic mutations and copy number variations (CNVs) in TNBC to build a binary matrix and identifying the top and bottom 25% mutated samples, (2) comparing the gene expression between the top and bottom 25% samples to identify genome instability-related genes, and (3) performing univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to identify survival-associated gene signature, and Kaplan–Meier, log-rank test, and multivariate Cox regression analyses to obtain overall survival (OS) information for TNBC outcome prediction.

Results

From the identified 111 genome instability-related genes, we extracted a genome instability-derived gene signature (GIGenSig) of 11 genes. Through survival analysis, we were able to classify TNBC cases into high- and low-risk groups by the signature in the training dataset (log-rank test p = 2.66e−04), validated its prognostic performance in the testing (log-rank test p = 2.45e−02) and Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) (log-rank test p = 2.57e−05) datasets, and further validated the predictive power of the signature in five independent datasets.

Conclusion

The identified novel signature provides a better understanding of genome instability in TNBC and can be applied as prognostic markers for clinical TNBC management.

Curcumin: Modulator of Key Molecular Signaling Pathways in Hormone-Independent Breast Cancer

Simple Summary

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females worldwide. It is a highly heterogeneous disease, classified according to hormone and growth factor receptor expression. Patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (estrogen receptor-negative/progesterone receptor-negative/human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-negative) and hormone-independent HER2 overexpressing subtypes still represent highly aggressive behavior, metastasis, poor prognosis, and drug resistance. Thus, new alternative anticancer agents based on the use of natural products have been receiving enormous attention. In this regard, curcumin is a promising lead in cancer drug discovery due its ability to modulate a diverse range of molecular targets and signaling pathways. The current review has emphasized the underlying mechanism of curcumin anticancer action mediated through the modulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, JAK/STAT, MAPK, NF-ĸB, p53, Wnt/β-catenin, apoptosis, and cell cycle pathways in hormone-independent breast cancer, providing frameworks for future studies and insights to improve its efficiency in clinical practice.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Despite the overall successes in breast cancer therapy, hormone-independent HER2 negative breast cancer, also known as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), lacking estrogens and progesterone receptors and with an excessive expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), along with the hormone-independent HER2 positive subtype, still remain major challenges in breast cancer treatment. Due to their poor prognoses, aggressive phenotype, and highly metastasis features, new alternative therapies have become an urgent clinical need. One of the most noteworthy phytochemicals, curcumin, has attracted enormous attention as a promising drug candidate in breast cancer prevention and treatment due to its multi-targeting effect. Curcumin interrupts major stages of tumorigenesis including cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and metastasis in hormone-independent breast cancer through the modulation of multiple signaling pathways. The current review has highlighted the anticancer activity of curcumin in hormone-independent breast cancer via focusing on its impact on key signaling pathways including the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, JAK/STAT pathway, MAPK pathway, NF-ĸB pathway, p53 pathway, and Wnt/β-catenin, as well as apoptotic and cell cycle pathways. Besides, its therapeutic implications in clinical trials are here presented.

Comparative protein profiling reveals the inhibitory role of curcumin on IL-17A mediated minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins as novel putative markers for acute lung injury in vivo

The Pro-inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin 17A (IL-17A) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory-induced acute lung injury (ALI). But, the mechanisms of this pro-inflammatory cytokine in response to activation after replication stress are not yet known. Control on DNA replication (DR) is vital for maintaining genome stability. Minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins play essential roles in various cancers, but their involvement during ALI is not yet been discussed. The present study was carried out to assess the participation of IL-17A during replication stress and to evaluate the contribution of curcumin on this. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach has been used on mice lung tissues treated with IL-17A, as a prime mediator to cause injury and curcumin a natural polyphenol as an intervention. Several trends were identified from the proteomic subset which revealed that IL-17A induces expressions of proteins like MCM2, MCM3, and MCM6 along with other proteins involved in DR. Interestingly, curcumin was found in suppressing the expression levels of these proteins. This was also confirmed via validating LC-MS/MS data using appropriate molecular techniques. Pathway and gene ontology analysis were performed with DAVID GO databases. Apart from this, the present study also reports the unique contribution of curcumin in suppressing the mRNA levels of other MCMs like MCM4, MCM5, and MCM7 as well as of ORC1 and ORC2. Hence, the present study revolves around linking the replication stress by pro-inflammatory effects, highlighting the implications for ALI and therapies. This study, therefore, enhances our capacity to therapeutically target DR-specific proteins.

MCM2-7 complex is a novel druggable target for neuroendocrine prostate cancer

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is a lethal subtype of prostate cancer that rarely develops de novo in primary tumors and is commonly acquired during the development of treatment resistance. NEPC is characterized by gain of neuroendocrine markers and loss of androgen receptor (AR), making it resistant to current therapeutic strategies targeting the AR signaling axis. Here, we report that MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, and MCM6 (MCM2/3/4/6) are elevated in human NEPC and high levels of MCM2/3/4/6 are associated with liver metastasis and poor survival in prostate cancer patients. MCM2/3/4/6 are four out of six proteins that form a core DNA helicase (MCM2-7) responsible for unwinding DNA forks during DNA replication. Inhibition of MCM2-7 by treatment with ciprofloxacin inhibits NEPC cell proliferation and migration in vitro, significantly delays NEPC tumor xenograft growth, and partially reverses the neuroendocrine phenotype in vivo. Our study reveals the clinical relevance of MCM2/3/4/6 proteins in NEPC and suggests that inhibition of MCM2-7 may represent a new therapeutic strategy for NEPC.

Novel quercetin encapsulated chitosan functionalized copper oxide nanoparticles as anti-breast cancer agent via regulating p53 in rat model

This study was designed to present a new quercetin encapsulated chitosan functionalized copper oxide nanoparticle (CuO-ChNPs-Q) and assessed its anti-breast cancer activity both in vitro and in vivo. The CuO-ChNPs-Q may act as anti-proliferating agent against DMBA-induced mammary carcinoma in female rats. The CuONPs was functionalized with chitosan then quercetin was conjugated with them producing CuO-ChNPs-Q, then characterized. The in vitro anti-proliferating activity of the CuO-ChNPs-Q was evaluated against three human cell line. Then, the anti-breast cancer effect of the CuO-ChNPs-Q was assessed against DMBA-induction compared to both CuONPs and Q in female rat model. The in vitro results proved the potent anticancer activity of the CuO-ChNPs-Q compared to CuONPs and quercetin. The in vivo data showed significant reduction in breast tumors of DMBA-induced rats treated with CuO-ChNPs-Q compared to CuONPs and Q. The CuO-ChNPs-Q treatment had induced apoptosis via increased p53 gene, arrested the cell-cycle, and increased both cytochrome c and caspase-3 levels leading to mammary carcinoma cell death. Also, the CuO-ChNPs-Q treatment had suppressed the PCNA gene which decreased the proliferation of the mammary carcinoma cells. In conclusion, the CuO-ChNPs-Q might be a promising chemotherapeutic agent for treatment of breast cancer with a minimal toxicity on vital organs.

INHBA promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells through the upregulation of VCAN

OBJECTIVE

Colon cancer has high morbidity and mortality rates, and proliferation, invasion and migration play an important role in colon cancer progression. Here, the effects of inhibin subunit beta A (INHBA) on cell proliferation, invasion and migration were investigated.

METHODS

The UALCAN database was used to assess INHBA expression in colon cancer tissues and predict the survival of patients with high and low INHBA expression. The relevant proteins were detected by RT-qPCR and western blot. Cell transfection was performed to overexpress or inhibit INHBA and versican (VCAN). The high correlation between INHBA and VCAN found through LinkedOmics and StarBase databases was verified by immunoprecipitation assays. Cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to assess migration and invasion.

RESULTS

INHBA expression was upregulated in colon cancer tissues and cells. INHBA inhibition impaired the proliferation, migration and invasion of these cells. In addition, we confirmed the correlation between INHBA and VCAN in colon cancer cells. Finally, we found that INHBA interference inhibited the aggressive behavior of colon cancer cells by downregulating VCAN.

CONCLUSION

INHBA promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells through the upregulation of VCAN.

Immunohistochemical expression of substance P in breast cancer and its association with prognostic parameters and Ki-67 index

BACKGROUND

The neuropeptide substance P is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in cancer. The main objectives of this study were to investigate the expression level of substance P in different breast cancer molecular subtypes and identify its association with clinicopathological parameters of patients and with Ki-67 index.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed for a total of 164 paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissue samples [42 Her2/neu-enriched, 40 luminal A, 42 luminal B (triple-positive) and 40 triple negative subtypes]. The tissue microarray slides containing specimens were used to determine the expression of substance p and Ki-67 by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

The mean age of the cohort was 51.35 years. Twenty two percent of cases had low substance P expression levels (TS ≤ 5), while 78% had high expression levels (TS > 5). A significant association was found between SP expression level and breast cancer molecular subtype (p = 0.002), TNM stage (p = 0.034), pN stage (p = 0.013), axillary lymph node metastasis (p = 0.004), ER and PR statuses (p<0.001) and history of DCIS (p = 0.009). The average percentage of Ki-67 expression was 27.05%. When analyzed as a continuous variable, significant differences were observed between the mean Ki-67 scores and molecular subtype (p = 0.001), grade (p = 0.003), pN stage (p = 0.007), axillary lymph node metastasis (p = 0.001), and ER and PR statuses (p <0.001).

CONCLUSION

SP is overexpressed in most of the analyzed tissues and has a negative prognostic value in the breast cancer patients. Besides substance P is a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer.

Identification of circRNA circ-CSPP1 as a potent driver of colorectal cancer by directly targeting the miR-431/LASP1 axis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in cancer biology. The purpose of the current work is to investigate the precise parts of circRNA centrosome and spindle pole-associated protein 1 (circ-CSPP1) in the progression of CRC. Our data showed that circ-CSPP1 was significantly overexpressed in CRC tissues and cells. The knockdown of circ-CSPP1 attenuated cell proliferation, migration, invasion and promoted apoptosis in vitro and weakened tumor growth in vivo. circ-CSPP1 directly targeted miR-431, and circ-CSPP1 knockdown modulated CRC cell progression in vitro via upregulating miR-431. Moreover, LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP1) was a functional target of miR-431 in modulating CRC cell malignant progression. Furthermore, circ-CSPP1 in CRC cells functioned as a posttranscriptional regulator on LASP1 expression by targeting miR-431. Our present study identified the oncogenic role of circ-CSPP1 in CRC partially by the modulation of the miR-431/LASP1 axis, providing evidence for circ-CSPP1 as a promising biomarker for CRC management.

Deciphering the whale's secrets to have a long life

Whales are marine creatures known for their enormous size and that live in all the oceans on earth. One of the oldest known organisms is bowhead whales, which can survive up to 200 years, and similarly, other species of whales have shown a remarkable long lifespan. In addition to this, whales are highly resistant to cancer, a disease that is strongly related to aging and the accumulation of damage over time. These two characteristics make whales an interesting model to study and that can provide us with a track both to delay aging and to avoid pathologies associated with it, such as cancer. In the present work, we try to analyze different aspects of whales such as metabolism, hematological and biochemical characteristics, and properties of their genome and transcriptome in order to elucidate possible molecular mechanisms that evolution has provided to these aquatic mammals.

Challenging, Accurate and Feasible: CAF-1 as a Tumour Proliferation Marker of Diagnostic and Prognostic Value

Simple Summary

There is an emerging need for new weapons in the battle against cancer; therefore, the discovery of new biomarkers with diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value is a priority of current cancer research. An important task is to identify how quickly a tumour proliferates. A tumour’s proliferation rate is critical for grading and clinical decision-making; hence, there is an imperative need for accurate proliferation markers. Here, we review evidence demonstrating that chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1) is a proliferation marker of clinical value. CAF-1 is selectively expressed in proliferating cells and its expression can be evaluated by immunohistochemistry in cytology smears and biopsies. CAF-1 expression is increased in almost all cancers and correlates strongly with the expression of Ki-67, the current routine proliferation marker. Overexpression of CAF-1 is associated with poor clinical outcome (advanced cancer stage, recurrence, metastasis, and decreased survival). CAF-1 is a robust, reproducible, and feasible proliferation marker of prognostic importance and may represent an attractive alternative or complementary to Ki-67 for cancer stratification and clinical guidance.

Abstract

The discovery of novel biomarkers of diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value is a major challenge of current cancer research. The assessment of tumour cell proliferative capacity is pivotal for grading and clinical decision-making, highlighting the importance of proliferation markers as diagnostic and prognostic tools. Currently, the immunohistochemical analysis of Ki-67 expression levels is routinely used in clinical settings to assess tumour proliferation. Inasmuch as the function of Ki-67 is not fully understood and its evaluation lacks standardization, there is interest in chromatin regulator proteins as alternative proliferation markers of clinical value. Here, we review recent evidence demonstrating that chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1), a histone chaperone selectively expressed in cycling cells, is a proliferation marker of clinical value. CAF-1 expression, when evaluated by immunocytochemistry in breast cancer cytology smears and immunohistochemistry in cancer biopsies from several tissues, strongly correlates with the expression of Ki-67 and other proliferation markers. Notably, CAF-1 expression is upregulated in almost all cancers, and CAF-1 overexpression is significantly associated, in most cancer types, with high histological tumour grade, advanced stage, recurrence, metastasis, and decreased patient survival. These findings suggest that CAF-1 is a robust, reproducible, and feasible proliferation marker of prognostic importance. CAF-1 may represent an attractive alternative or complementary to Ki-67 for cancer stratification and clinical guidance.

In vivo experimental study to investigate cytogenotoxicity of a contaminated estuary from Southeastern Brazilian Coast

The aim of this study was to evaluate cytogenotoxicity in mammalian cells induced by ingestion of superficial water from SESS. For this purpose, surface water was collected from two points of SESS: São Vicente Channel (SVC) and Piaçaguera Channel (PIC). Four groups (n = 5) of adult male Wistar (8 weeks old) received for 5 days: (a) filtered tap water (water control), (b) tap water with 2.4% of NaCl (saline control), (c) estuarine water from PIC and (d) estuarine water from SVC. Results demonstrated that Ki67 immunoexpression was higher in hepatocytes exposed to both sampling site, while caspase-3 demonstrated downregulation in rat liver exposed to estuarine water. There was also significant increase in micronuclei frequency in bone marrow cells and hepatocytes, and DNA damage in blood and liver of rats exposed to estuarine water from SVC and PIC. In summary, studies with complex mixtures, such as contaminated estuarine water are important since this work confirmed by experiments using in vivo mammalian cells of rats that SESS water are genotoxic, mutagenic and cytotoxic, denoting concern for environmental health.

Dietary flavone from the Tetrastigma hemsleyanum vine triggers human lung adenocarcinoma apoptosis via autophagy

Among all types of cancers, lung cancer ranks first in morbidity and mortality, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80-85% of all lung cancer cases. Chemotherapy has shown promising results, but the accompanying side-effects cannot be neglected. Herein, we introduce novel flavones (TVF), which were characterized as 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside by UPLC-MS/MS, derived from the vine of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (TV), a traditional Chinese herb and food. TVF exhibited outstanding anti-cancer abilities at the in vitro and in vivo level, and markedly triggered apoptosis via the Bax/Bcl-2/caspase-9/caspase-3 pathway. The intrinsic mechanism study illustrated that TVF might induce apoptosis by activating autophagy by inhibiting the Akt-mTOR pathway, and the main component of TVF, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, enabled THR308 site binding to block the phosphorylation of Akt, which was further evidenced by molecular docking computation. Our study reveals the excellent anti-cancer ability and inner mechanism of TVF, suggesting TVF as a potential candidate for clinical drug exploitation or dietary supplementation in cancer medication and prevention, providing a promising strategy for cancer chemotherapy.

Hyperthermia by near infrared radiation induced immune cells activation and infiltration in breast tumor

Breast cancer is the most common cancer that causes death in women. Conventional therapies, including surgery and chemotherapy, have different therapeutic effects and are commonly associated with risks and side effects. Near infrared radiation is a technique with few side effects that is used for local hyperthermia, typically as an adjuvant to other cancer therapies. The understanding of the use of near NIR as a monotherapy, and its effects on the immune cells activation and infiltration, are limited. In this study, we investigate the effects of HT treatment using NIR on tumor regression and on the immune cells and molecules in breast tumors. Results from this study demonstrated that local HT by NIR at 43 °C reduced tumor progression and significantly increased the median survival of tumor-bearing mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significant reduction in cells proliferation in treated tumor, which was accompanied by an abundance of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). Increased numbers of activated dendritic cells were observed in the draining lymph nodes of the mice, along with infiltration of T cells, NK cells and B cells into the tumor. In contrast, tumor-infiltrated regulatory T cells were largely diminished from the tumor. In addition, higher IFN-γ and IL-2 secretion was observed in tumor of treated mice. Overall, results from this present study extends the understanding of using local HT by NIR to stimulate a favourable immune response against breast cancer.

RPLP1 is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and promotes proliferation, invasion and migration of human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3b cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common primary malignant tumor with a high mortality rate. Increasing evidence suggests that ribosomal protein LP1 (RPLP1) is involved in the progression of different types of cancer. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of RPLP1 in HCC progression. The cellular behaviors of Hep3b cells were assessed via Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays. Western blot analysis was performed to detect protein expression levels, while reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis was performed to detect mRNA expression levels. The results demonstrated that RPLP1 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells, and the overexpression of RPLP1 was associated with a less favorable prognosis of patients with HCC. Notably, downregulation of RPLP1 significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of Hep3b cells. Taken together, the results of the present study suggested that RPLP1 acts as an oncogene in HCC, and thus may be used to treat patients with HCC.

TRIM14 regulates melanoma malignancy via PTEN/PI3K/AKT and STAT3 pathways

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers with poor overall survival. To date, there are still few effective methods for the treatment of melanoma. TRIM14 was previously reported to be an important oncogene in many tumors. Nevertheless, the roles of TRIM14 in melanoma remain unknown. In this study, we found that TRIM14 was abnormally upregulated in melanoma cell lines. Knockdown of TRIM14 suppressed melanoma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and melanin synthesis. Overexpression of TRIM14 had opposite effects on the cellular functions of melanoma cell lines. Further study revealed that TRIM14 knockdown increased PTEN protein levels, which in turn inactivated AKT and STAT3 pathways. Moreover, blocking AKT or STAT3 pathway with a specific inhibitor could partially reverse the promotion of melanoma malignancy mediated by TRIM14 overexpression. In addition, in vivo assay also supported the above findings. These results indicated that TRIM14 might be a promising target for melanoma treatment.

Plumbagin Inhibits Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Induced by FGF-2

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a serious ophthalmic disease and characterized by the formation of proliferative membranes by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. In PVR, the contraction and traction of the fibrocellular membranes cause retinal detachment, which can cause reduction surgery for retinal detachment to fail. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) causes RPE cells to form extracellular matrix (ECM), promotes chemotaxis, mitosis, and positively promotes the disease process of PVR. Plumbagin (PLB) is a plant small molecule naphthoquinone compound. It has the functions in anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, inhibit proliferation. We tried to investigate the possible effects of PLB on the biological behavior of ARPE-19 cells induced by FGF-2 and its underlying mechanisms. Our study confirmed that proliferation, migration, and invasion of ARPE-19 cells induced by FGF-2 (10 ng/ml) were significantly inhibited by PLB. PLB also significantly inhibits the expression of MMP-2/-9, collagen I Alpha 1 (Col1A1), collagen IV Alpha 1 (Col4A1), collagen VI Alpha 1 (Col6A1), and the phosphorylation of FGF receptor (FGFR)-1, FGFR-2, ERK, p38, JNK of FGF-2-induced ARPE-19 cells. In summary, PLB inhibits FGF-2-stimulated proliferation, migration, and invasion of ARPE-19 cells, which may take place through inhibiting the expression of MMP-2/-9, Col1A1, Col4A1, Col6A1, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. PLB may have a preventive effect on proliferation, migration, and invasion of FGF-2-induced ARPE-19 cells.

A novel 4D cell culture mimicking stomach peristalsis altered gastric cancer spheroids growth and malignance

In vitrocancer models that can largely mimic thein vivomicroenvironment are crucial for conducting more accurate research. Models of three-dimensional (3D) culture that can mimic some aspects of cancer microenvironment or cancer biopsies that can adequately represent tumor heterogeneity are intensely used currently. Those models still lack the dynamic stress stimuli in gastric carcinoma exposed to stomach peristalsisin vivo. This study leveraged a lab-developed four-dimensional (4D) culture model by a magnetic responsive alginate-based hydrogel to rotating magnets that can mimic stress stimuli in gastric cancer (GC). We used the 4D model to culture human GC cell line AGS and SGC7901, cells at the primary and metastasis stage. We revealed the 4D model altered the cancer cell growth kinetics mechanistically by alteringPCNAandp53expression compared to the 3D culture that lacks stress stimuli. We found the 4D model altered the cancer spheroids stemness as evidenced by enhanced cancer stem cells (CD44) marker expression in AGS spheroids but the expression was dampened in SGC7901 cells. We examined the multi-drug resistance (MDR1) marker expression and found the 4D model dampened the MDR1 expression in SGC7901 cell spheroids, but not in spheroids of AGS cells. Such a model provides the stomach peristalsis mimic and is promising for conducting basic or translational GC-associated research, drug screening, and culturing patient gastric biopsies to tailor the therapeutic strategies in precision medicine.

Biological properties and development of hypoxia in a breast cancer 3D model generated by hanging drop technique

Hanging drop represents a simple approach designed for the generation of 3D models that have potential to be used for the study of solid tumors characteristics. The aim of the study was to develop and characterize the breast cancer 3D cellular models obtained through hanging drop technique using MDA-MB-231 cells. The biological characteristics such as: morphology, cellular viability, proliferation capacity and hypoxia, were monitored for a six-day time period. The morphological evaluation indicated that the 3D models presented the aspect of compact (seeding density of 2500 and 5000 cells/drop) and loose (seeding density of 8000 cells/drop) aggregates, with a decrease in diameter and an increase of their circularity. The cellular viability and proliferation capacity decreased in time and the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased in a time-dependent manner, suggesting the presence of necrotic cells that were dispersed in the cellular aggregates. The occurrence of hypoxia process was suggested by the up-regulation of Hsp70 protein expression and increased level of nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, the up-regulation of HIF-1α and poli-ubiquitinated Nrf2 protein expressions and decreased level of reduced glutathione (GSH) indicated the presence of an acute hypoxic environment in MDA-MB-231 3D aggregates. In conclusion, the MDA-MB-231 3D models generated through hanging drop are compact and loose aggregates characterized by an acute hypoxic condition.

Cardamonin inhibits the progression of oesophageal cancer by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway

Background: Oesophageal cancer is the most common malignant tumour with a poor prognosis, and the current treatment methods are limited. Therefore, identifying effective treatment methods has become a research hotspot. Cardamonin (CAR) is a natural chalcone compound and has been reported to play an anticancer role in several cancers. However, its function in oesophageal cancer and the possible underlying mechanism are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the anticancer effect of CAR on oesophageal cancer in vivo and in vitro and to explore the underlying mechanism.

Materials and Methods: MTT, crystal violet, and colony formation assays were used to detect oesophageal cancer cell proliferation. The effects of CAR on oesophageal cancer cell migration and invasion were detected by wound healing assay and Transwell assay. Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry were used to detect cell apoptosis. Protein expression levels were detected by Western blot. A tumour xenograft model was established to further test the effect of CAR on the growth of oesophageal cancer in vivo.

Results: The results showed that CAR inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oesophageal cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the Western blot assay showed that CAR could suppress metastasis by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as indicated by downregulated expression of the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and vimentin, the EMT transcription factor Snail, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and upregulated expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin. CAR was associated with upregulation of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bad and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and triggered the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, which in turn promoted caspase-3 activation and subsequent cleavage of PARP; however, the mitochondria-related apoptotic effects induced by CAR were blocked by caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK pretreatment, which prevented programmed cell death triggered by CAR. In addition, CAR reduced the phosphorylation level of downstream effector molecules of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) in a dose-dependent manner, and treatment with the PI3K agonist 740Y-P could partially reverse the anticancer effect of CAR, demonstrating that CAR played an antitumour role by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in oesophageal cancer cells. Moreover, the EC9706 xenograft model further confirmed that CAR can significantly inhibit tumour growth in vivo.

Conclusion: In summary, CAR exhibited a strong anticancer effect on human oesophageal cancer cells and promoted apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway, suggesting that CAR can be used as new strategy for oesophageal cancer treatment.

Neuroinflammatory Response to TNFα and IL1β Cytokines Is Accompanied by an Increase in Glycolysis in Human Astrocytes In Vitro

Astrogliosis has been abundantly studied in rodents but relatively poorly in human cells due to limited access to the brain. Astrocytes play important roles in cerebral energy metabolism, and are also key players in neuroinflammation. Astroglial metabolic and inflammatory changes as a function of age have been reported, leading to the hypothesis that mitochondrial metabolism and inflammatory responses are interconnected in supporting a functional switch of astrocytes from neurotrophic to neurotoxic. This study aimed to explore the metabolic changes occurring in astrocytes during their activation. Astrocytes were derived from human ReN cell neural progenitors and characterized. They were activated by exposure to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) or interleukin 1β (IL1β) for 24 h. Astrocyte reaction and associated energy metabolic changes were assessed by immunostaining, gene expression, proteomics, metabolomics and extracellular flux analyses. ReN-derived astrocytes reactivity was observed by the modifications of genes and proteins linked to inflammation (cytokines, nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB), signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs)) and immune pathways (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I). Increased NFκB1, NFκB2 and STAT1 expression, together with decreased STAT3 expression, suggest an activation towards the detrimental pathway. Strong modifications of astrocyte cytoskeleton were observed, including a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) decrease. Astrogliosis was accompanied by changes in energy metabolism characterized by increased glycolysis and lactate release. Increased glycolysis is reported for the first time during human astrocyte activation. Astrocyte activation is strongly tied to energy metabolism, and a possible association between NFκB signaling and/or MHC class I pathway and glycolysis is suggested.

Knockdown of MCM8 functions as a strategy to inhibit the development and progression of osteosarcoma through regulating CTGF

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone derived from osteoblasts, which is a noteworthy threat to the health of children and adolescents. In this study, we found that MCM8 has significantly higher expression level in osteosarcoma tissues in comparison with normal tissues, which was also correlated with more advanced tumor grade and pathological stage. In agreement with the role of MCM proteins as indicators of cell proliferation, knockdown/overexpression of MCM8 inhibited/promoted osteosarcoma cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Also, MCM8 knockdown/overexpression was also significantly associated with the promotion/inhibition of cell apoptosis and suppression/promotion of cell migration. More importantly, mechanistic study identified CTGF as a potential downstream target of MCM8, silencing of which could enhance the regulatory effects of MCM8 knockdown and alleviate the effects of MCM8 overexpression on osteosarcoma development. In summary, MCM8/CTGF axis was revealed as critical participant in the development and progression of osteosarcoma and MCM8 may be a promising therapeutic target for osteosarcoma treatment.

Emerging roles of circular RNAs in non‑small cell lung cancer (Review)

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of novel endogenous transcripts with limited protein‑coding abilities. CircRNAs have been demonstrated to function as critical regulators of tumor development and distant metastasis through binding to microRNAs (miRNAs) and interacting with RNA‑binding proteins, thereby regulating transcription and translation. Emerging evidence has illustrated that certain circRNAs can serve as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, and/or serve as potential therapeutic targets. Expression of functional circRNAs is commonly dysregulated in cancer and this is correlated with advanced Tumor‑Node‑Metastasis stage, lymph node status, distant metastasis, poor differentiation and shorter overall survival of cancer patients. Recently, an increasing number of studies have shown that circRNAs are closely associated with NSCLC. Functional experiments have revealed that circRNAs are intricately associated with the pathological progression of NSCLC. The present review provides an overview of the regulatory effect of circRNAs in the development and progression of NSCLC, taking into consideration various physiological and pathological processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration, and their potential value as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

DEK is highly expressed in breast cancer and is associated with malignant phenotype and progression

DEK proto-oncogene (DEK) has been demonstrated as an oncogene and is associated with the development of many types of tumor; however, the expression and role of DEK in breast cancer remain unknown. The present study aimed to determine the role of DEK in the progression of breast cancer. The expression of DEK in 110 breast cancer tissues and 50 adjacent normal breast tissues was examined using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, DEK expression was upregulated by DEK transfection or downregulated by DEK shRNA interference in MCF7 cells. Proliferative and invasive abilities were examined in MCF7 cells using MTT assay, colony-formation assay and transwell invasion assays. The results demonstrated that DEK expression level was significantly increased in breast cancer tissues compared with normal breast tissues. Furthermore, high DEK expression was associated with high histological grade, lymph node metastasis, advanced Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage and high Ki-67 index; however, DEK expression was not associated with the expression level of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. High DEK expression indicated poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. DEK overexpression upregulated the protein expression of β-catenin and Wnt and increased the proliferative and invasive abilities of breast cancer cells. DEK downregulation had the opposite effect. Taken together, the results from the present study demonstrated that high expression of DEK was common in patients with breast cancer and was associated with progression of the disease and poor prognosis, and that DEK overexpression promoted the proliferative and invasive abilities of breast cancer cells.

Evaluation of cytotoxic activity and anticancer potential of indigenous Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) dry extracts on MG-63 bone osteosarcoma human cell line

We aimed to investigate the cytotoxic activity of indigenous Rosemary and Oregano freeze-dried extracts upon MG-63 osteosarcoma human cell line. We have determined the influence of analyzed dry extracts on cell morphology, cell survival and cell proliferation. The evaluation of dry extracts effect upon cell proliferation and viability was assessed by means of 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. For cytotoxicity evaluation, Live & Dead and lactate dehydrogenase assays have been used. To further investigate the potential anticancer effect, we have studied the influence of dry extracts upon cells, by means of caspase-3/7 assay and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression. Cells were incubated with extracts in the following concentration range (100–700 μg/mL) for 24 hours. According to our results, both dry extracts have shown cytotoxic effects by means of all used methods. Bone osteosarcoma cells viability significantly decreased with increasing concentration of analyzed extracts (beyond 300 μg/mL for Rosemary dry extract and only at 700 μg/mL for Oregano dry extract). According to our results, apoptosis is one of the main mechanisms involved in the cytotoxic properties of analyzed extracts. Moreover, Rosemary extract has also shown decreased expression of PCNA, when compared to control (untreated cells). Both extracts were standardized in phenolic compounds (being a rich source of flavones and phenolcarboxylic acids), so we assume that these are the main constituents involved in the cytotoxic effect. Still, further preclinical studies are needed to confirm the antitumor properties and to go deeply in the molecular mechanisms involved.

MiR-377-3p inhibits atherosclerosis-associated vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration via targeting neuropilin2

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration are vital to atherosclerosis (AS) development and plaque rupture. MicroRNA-377-3p (miR-377-3p) has been reported to inhibit AS in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE^−/−) mice. Herein, the mechanism underlying the effect of miR-377-3p on alleviating AS is explored. In vivo experiments, ApoE^−/− mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) to induce AS and treated with miR-377-3p agomir or negative control agomir (agomir-NC) on week 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 after HFD feeding. MiR-377-3p was found to restore HFD-induced AS lesions and expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, α-smooth muscle actin (α-actin) and calponin. In in vitro experiments, human VSMCs were tranfected with miR-377-3p agomir or agomir-NC, followed by treatment with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). MiR-377-3p was observed to significantly inhibit ox-LDL-induced VSMC proliferation characterized by inhibited cell viability, expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D1 and cyclin E and cell cycle transition from G₁ to S phase accompanied with less 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU)-positive cells. Furthermore, MiR-377-3p significantly inhibited ox-LDL-induced VSMC migration characterized by inhibited wound closure and decreased relative VSMC migration. Besides, neuropilin2 (NRP2) was verified as a target of miR-377-3p. MiR-377-3p was observed to inhibit NRP2 expressions in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, miR-377-3p significantly inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions in human VSMCs. Additionally, miR-377-3p-induced inhibition of VSMC proliferation and migration could be attenuated by NRP2 overexpression. These results indicated that miR-377-3p inhibited VSMC proliferation and migration via targeting NRP2. The present study provides an underlying mechanism for miR-377-3p-based AS therapy.

Overexpression of Cosmc suppresses cell migration and invasion in different subtypes of breast cancer cells via Tn and T glycans

Objectives: The high mortality of breast cancer (BC) is associated with the strong metastatic properties of primary breast tumor cells. The present study was conducted in order to clarify the effect of Cosmc on the growth and metastasis of BC cell lines of different molecular types, which may be implicated in the regulation of Tn and T glycans.

Methods: BC cell lines with different molecular types were transduced with shRNA targeting Cosmc or, Cosmc overexpression plasmid in order to explore the role of Cosmc in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. The protein levels of Tn, T, Cosmc, proliferation-related factors (Ki67 and PCNA) and apoptosis-related factors (Bax and Bad) in BC cell lines were determined by Western blot analyses. Finally, the role of Cosmc was substantiated through in vivo experiments.

Results: Cosmc was down-regulated in different subtypes of BC cell lines compared with normal control cells. Overexpression of Cosmc suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion, yet promoted the apoptosis of BC cells, as reflected by in vitro experiments. Additionally, in vivo tumor xenografts in nude mice showed that ectopic overexpression of Cosmc inhibited the tumor growth of BC cells. Consequently, the levels of proliferation-related factors and Tn antigen were decreased, while those of apoptosis-related factors and T antigen were increased in BC cells. This observation was confirmed in vivo in xenograft tumors.

Conclusion: Collectively, up-regulation of Cosmc potentially impedes BC growth and metastasis by modulating the balance between Tn and T glycans.

Ιn vivo imaging of DNA-bound minichromosome maintenance complex in embryonic mouse cortex

The recruitment of the minichromosome maintenance complex (MCM) on DNA replication origins is a critical process for faithful genome duplication termed licensing. Aberrant licensing has been associated with cancer and, recently, with neurodevelopmental diseases. Investigating MCM loading in complicated tissues, such as brain, remains challenging. Here, we describe an optimized approach for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of DNA-bound MCMs in the developing mouse cortex through direct imaging, offering an innovative insight into the research of origin licensing in vivo.

Biejiajian Pill Inhibits Carcinogenesis and Metastasis via the Akt/GSK-3β/Snail Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most usual cancers globally. In China, Biejiajian pill (BJJP), Traditional Chinese Medicine clinical prescription, is broadly utilized for the prevention and therapy of HCC. However, the mechanisms by which BJJP exerts its effects on the prevention of tumor invasion and metastasis are still largely unknown. In this study, in vitro multiple hepatic cancer cell lines and an in vivo xenograft mice model were used to validate the preventive effects and molecular mechanisms of BJJP in HCC. We established that BJJP significantly repressed the proliferation, metastasis and infiltration of HCC cells. Furthermore, BJJP remarkably suppressed HCC cell migration, as well as invasion via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by modulating Snail expression, which was associated with the repression of Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling axis activation. In vivo HCC xenograft results indicated that BJJP delayed HCC development and efficiently inhibited lung metastasis. Taken together, BJJP was shown to be an effective therapeutic agent against HCC through repression of the Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling cascade and EMT.

Sorafenib suppresses proliferation rate of fibroblast-like synoviocytes through the arrest of cell cycle in experimental adjuvant arthritis

OBJECTIVES

Rheumatoid arthritis, a recurrent incendiary autoimmune joint syndrome, features by prominent synovial hyperplasia. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes are the executive components in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. It is generally accepted that excessive proliferation and reduced apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes lead to synovial hyperplasia. Our previously studies found that sorafenib could inhibit adjuvant arthritis in rats and induced adjuvant arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes apoptosis. Presently, we aim to investigate the inhibitory effect with mechanisms of action of sorafenib on adjuvant arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes proliferation.

METHODS

Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry detection were conducted to monitor FLSs proliferation and cell cycle. Western blotting and qPCR assays were performed to detect P21, P53, CDK4, CyclinD1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen content levels.

KEY FINDINGS

Sorafenib significantly inhibited adjuvant arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes proliferation with an IC50 value of 4 µmol/L by a concentration-dependent pattern, which accompanies by G1 cell cycle arrest. Also, sorafenib significantly decreased the levels of P21, CyclinD1, CDK4 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, as well as up-regulated P53 expression in adjuvant arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

Sorafenib could inhibit adjuvant arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes proliferation via arresting G1/S cell cycle progression, which was partially through CDK4/CyclinD1-mediated pathway, as well as up-regulating P53 and down-regulating proliferating cell nuclear antigen expressions. These results suggest that sorafenib may provide a new paradigm for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Study on <em>CCDC69</em> interfering with the prognosis of patients with breast cancer through PPAR signal pathway

Coiled-coil domain-containing protein 69 (CCDC69) is a novel gene and limited knowledge in known in breast cancer. In the present study, we aimed to explore the relationship between CCDC69 and breast cancer, demonstrate the clinicopathological significance and prognostic role of CCDC69 in breast cancer, and analyze the possible mechanism of CCDC69 affecting the prognosis of breast cancer. First, from GEO database, TIMER, GEPIA, and OncoLnc, we select CCDC69 as the potential gene which closely involved in breast cancer progression. Next, by real-time PCR detection, the expression of CCDC69 in breast cancer tissue was notably lower than that in normal breast tissues (p=0.0002). In addition, our immunohistochemistry (IHC) indicated that the positive expression rate of CCDC69 in the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) was lower than that in the non-TNBC (p=0.0362), and it was negatively correlated with the expression of Ki67 (p=0.001). Further enrichment analysis of CCDC69 and the similar genes performed on FunRich3.1.3 revealed that these genes were significantly associated with fat differentiation, and most of them were related to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signal pathway. Collectively, our findings suggest that CCDC69 is down regulated in breast cancer tissue especially in TNBC which has higher malignant grade and poorer clinical prognosis.

Network Pharmacology-Based Approach to Investigate the Molecular Targets of Sinomenine for Treating Breast Cancer

Purpose

Sinomenine has been known to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells. However, its targets have not been found yet. This study aimed to search for molecular targets of sinomenine for treating breast cancer via network pharmacology.

Methods

Potential targets of sinomenine or breast cancer were separately screened from indicated databases. The common targets of both sinomenine and breast cancer were considered as the targets of sinomenine for treating breast cancer. A sinomenine-target-pathway network was constructed based on the obtained results from Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. The putative targets of sinomenine were further determined by using protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis and molecular docking. Finally, the putative targets were verified in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Twenty predicted targets were identified through network pharmacological analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment indicated that these predicted targets enriched in the process of MAP kinase activity, VEGF signaling pathway, Relaxin signaling pathway, Growth hormone synthesis, secretion and action. MAPK1, NOS3, NR3C1, NOS1 and NOS2 were further identified as the putative targets by using PPI and molecular docking analysis. Expression of MAPK1, NR3C1, NOS1, NOS2 and NOS3 genes were significantly regulated by sinomenine in both MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, the expression of NR3C1 in human breast cancer specimens was lower than that in para-tumor normal tissues. Meanwhile, the expression of NR3C1 in xenograft tumors was up-regulated after sinomenine treatment.

Conclusion

MAPK1, NR3C1, NOS1, NOS2 and NOS3 were identified as the putative targets of sinomenine for treating breast cancer. NR3C1 was preliminarily confirmed as a target of sinomenine in two breast cancer cell lines, xenograft tumor models and human breast cancer specimens. These data indicated that the network pharmacology-based prediction of sinomenine targets for treating breast cancer could be reliable.

Diosgenin inhibits Wnt/β-catenin pathway to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of MG-63 cells

Dioscorea opposita Thunb has the effect of anti-osteoporosis, but whether its active ingredient diosgenin (DIO) has an anti-osteoporosis effect is unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of DIO on the proliferation and differentiation of MG-63 cells. MG-63 cells were treated with different concentrations of DIO (0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 μM) or 20 mM Wnt/β-catenin signaling agonist-LiCl, and then their cell cycle and viability were analyzed by flow cytometry and 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), respectively. To investigate osteoblast differentiation, alizarin red staining and ultraviolet spectrophotometer were used to determine the number of calcified nodules and the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), respectively. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were used to detect the expressions of proliferation-related, osteogenic-related and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway-related factors. After the cells were treated with low-concentration (0.001 or 0.01 μM) DIO, cell viability was significantly increased and the proportion of cells in S phase was increased. In addition, low-concentration DIO could significantly increase the expression of Ki67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), osteopontin (OPN), and osteocalcin (BGP), promote osteoblast differentiation, and suppress the expression of β-catenin, Runx2 and cyclinD1. However, high concentrations of DIO showed the opposite effect. Low-concentration DIO obviously reversed the effect of LiCl on decreasing the number of calcified nodules and inhibiting the expression of OPN and BGP in cells. Low-concentration DIO might promote the proliferation and differentiation of MG-63 cell by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.

Asiaticoside inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem cell-like properties of pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells by blocking the activation of p65 and p38MAPK

Background

To analyze the inhibitory effects of Asiaticoside (ATS) on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stem cell-like properties of a pancreatic cancer cell line (PANC-1) by blocking the activation of p65 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK).

Methods

ATS concentrations were set at 0, 10, 25, and 50 µmol/L. The survival rate of PANC-1 cells in each group was detected by CCK-8, and CD133 and CD44 positive cells were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. The expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, sex-determining region Y-box2 (SOX2), and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) proteins, and the phosphorylation levels of p65 and p38MAPK were detected by western blot. Nude mouse xenograft models of the tumor were established by subcutaneous injection of PANC-1 cells (1×10⁶-1×10⁸/mL), and they were randomly divided into the control group (0 mg/kg), and low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose ATS groups (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg). Apoptosis in xenograft tissue was detected by TUNEL, and the expression of vimentin and SOX2 proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry.

Results

As the ATS concentration increased to 25 µmol/L, cell survival rate, levels of Ki67 and PCNA mRNA, expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, SOX2, OCT4, p-p65/p65, and p-p38MAPK/p38MAPK proteins, and the proportions of CD44⁺ and CD133⁺ positive cells significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the expression of E-cadherin protein significantly increased (P<0.05). The results of tumor formation in nude mice showed that with the increase of ATS concentration, at 5 mg/kg the volume of the xenograft significantly decreased (P<0.05), the apoptosis rate significantly increased (P<0.05), and positive expression rates of vimentin and SOX2 proteins significantly decreased (P<0.05).

Conclusions

ATS may inhibit the proliferation, EMT, and stem cell-like properties of pancreatic cancer cells by blocking the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/p65 in PANC-1 cells.

Circ_0003998 Regulates the Progression and Docetaxel Sensitivity of DTX-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by the miR-136-5p/CORO1C Axis

Background:

Drug resistance in cancer cells is a major challenge for anti-cancer therapy. Circular RNA (circRNA) circ_0003998 has been identified as an important regulator in the chemoresistance development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular basis underlying the resistance control of circ_0003998 in NSCLC.

Methods:

The levels of circ_0003998, miR-136-5p and coronin 1C (CORO1C) were gauged by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or western blot. Cell viability, colony formation and apoptosis were evaluated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Targeted relationships among circ_0003998, miR-136-5p and CORO1C were confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Animal studies were performed to evaluate the function of circ_0003998 in vivo.

Results:

Our data indicated that circ_0003998 expression was associated with NSCLC resistance to docetaxel (DTX). The knockdown of circ_0003998 promoted DTX sensitivity, suppressed cell colony formation, and enhanced cell apoptosis of A549/DTX and H1299/DTX cells in vitro. Moreover, circ_0003998 knockdown hampered tumor growth and enhanced DTX sensitivity in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0003998 directly targeted miR-136-5p, and miR-136-5p was a molecular mediator of circ_0003998 function in vitro. Furthermore, CORO1C was a functionally important target of miR-136-5p in regulating DTX-resistant NSCLC cell colony formation, apoptosis and DTX sensitivity in vitro. Additionally, circ_0003998 modulated CORO1C expression by working as a miR-136-5p sponge.

Conclusion:

Our present work identified that circ_0003998 regulated DTX-resistant NSCLC cell colony formation, apoptosis and DTX sensitivity at least partially by controlling CORO1C expression by sponging miR-136-5p, illuminating a rationale for developing circ_0003998 as a therapeutic target of chemoresistant NSCLC.

Proliferation Genes Repressed by TGF-β Are Downstream of Slug/Snail2 in Normal Bronchial Epithelial Progenitors and Are Deregulated in COPD

Slug/Snail2 belongs to the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)-inducing transcription factors involved in development and diseases. Slug is expressed in adult stem/progenitor cells of several epithelia, making it unique among these transcription factors. To investigate Slug role in human bronchial epithelium progenitors, we studied primary bronchial basal/progenitor cells in an air-liquid interface culture system that allows regenerating a bronchial epithelium. To identify Slug downstream genes we knocked down Slug in basal/progenitor cells from normal subjects and subjects with COPD, a respiratory disease presenting anomalies in the bronchial epithelium and high levels of TGF-β in the lungs. We show that normal and COPD bronchial basal/progenitors, even when treated with TGF-β, express both epithelial and mesenchymal markers, and that the epithelial marker E-cadherin is not a target of Slug and, moreover, positively correlates with Slug. We reveal that Slug downstream genes responding to both differentiation and TGF-β are different in normal and COPD progenitors, with in particular a set of proliferation-related genes that are among the genes repressed downstream of Slug in normal but not COPD. In COPD progenitors at the onset of differentiation in presence of TGF-β,we show that there is positive correlations between the effect of differentiation and TGF-β on proliferation-related genes and on Slug protein, and that their expression levels are higher than in normal cells. As well, the expression of Smad3 and β-Catenin, two molecules from TGF-βsignaling pathways, are higher in COPD progenitors, and our results indicate that proliferation-related genes and Slug protein are increased by different TGF-β-induced mechanisms.

Circular RNA 100146 Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression by the MicroRNA 149/HMGA2 Axis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has developed into the third leading cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. Studies have confirmed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) absorb microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate the function of downstream genes. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of circRNA 100146 in CRC. The expression of circRNA 100146, miRNA 149 (miR-149), and high mobility group AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). A series of biofunctional effects (cell viability, apoptosis, migration/invasion) were evaluated by the use of methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), flow cytometry, and transwell assays. Protein levels were measured by Western blot assay. A xenograft model was established for in vivo experiments. The interactions among circRNA 100146, miR-149, and HMGA2 were evaluated by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assays, or RNA pulldown assay. circRNA 100146 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cells. circRNA 100146 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and suppressed migration and invasion in vitro and impeded tumor growth in vivo Also, miR-149 was negatively regulated by circRNA 100146 and was targeted to HMGA2 and mediated its expression. Moreover, miR-149 interference abrogated the activities of silenced circRNA 100146 in proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, HMGA2 overexpression abated the effects described above caused by circRNA 100146 silencing, while the mutations on miR-149 binding sites in the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of HMGA2 led to its loss of this ability. circRNA 100146 knockdown repressed proliferation, enhanced apoptosis, and hindered migration and invasion in SW620 and SW480 cells through targeting the miR-149/HMGA2 axis.

Hsa_circ_0076305 induces migration-proliferation dichotomy in gastric cancer

Recent studies have demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in the development of gastric cancer (GC). The present study aimed to investigate the role of hsa_circ_0076305 (circPGC) in GC. The levels of circRNAs and mRNAs in AGS cell lines were detected via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, and western blotting was performed to detect protein expression levels. Functional studies were explored by CCK8 assay and cell migration assay. Functional studies have indicated that circPGC orchestrates two cellular processes; it inhibits proliferation, and promotes migration and invasion in the GC AGS cell line, a phenomenon called ‘migration-proliferation dichotomy’, as well as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in AGS cells. In addition, circPGC degrades the extracellular matrix and basement membrane through matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)9 and MMP14, providing a microenvironment that facilitates cell migration. The results also demonstrated that circPGC expression is lower in clinical patients with later stages of GC, which is associated with poor prognosis. Taken together, these results suggest that circPGC exhibits migration-proliferation dichotomy during GC development, invasion and migration.

Sunitinib malate inhibits intestinal tumor development in male ApcMin/+ mice by down-regulating inflammation-related factors with suppressing β-cateinin/c-Myc pathway and re-balancing Bcl-6 and Caspase-3

Sunitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for many tumors. Inflammation is one of the most important factors in the development of intestinal tumors. Many inflammation-related factors are regulated by tyrosine kinase receptors. It is reasonable to hypothesize that sunitinib can regulate the development of intestinal tumors by regulating the expression and/or activity of inflammation-related factors. Here, ApcMin/+ male mouse model was used to investigate the effect and mechanism of sunitinib malate against intestinal cancer. Results show that compared to vehicle, after sunitinib malate treatment, overall survival of ApcMin/+ mice was lengthened up to 25 days, with a gain of body weight, reduction of spleen/body weight index, and RBC, WBC and HGC regulated to normal levels of wild type mice, and a number of polyps no less than 1 mm significantly reduced. Meanwhile, in the intestines, the nuclear β-Catenin protein and c-Myc mRNA were both down-regulated, and Bcl-6 was significantly reduced with Caspase-3 up regulated. Furthermore, inflammation-related factors including IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β and IFN-γ were down-regulated at mRNA levels in the intestines. These results suggest that sunitinib malate can significantly improve the survival status and inhibit intestinal tumor development in male ApcMin/+ mice, through inhibiting inflammation-related factors, while suppressing β-cateinin/c-Myc pathway and re-balancing protein levels of Bcl-6 and Caspase-3.

Insulin, but Not Metformin, Supports Wound Healing Process in Rats with Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

PURPOSE

Optimal glycemic control is crucial for proper wound healing in patients with diabetes. However, it is not clear whether other antidiabetic drugs support wound healing in mechanisms different from the normalization of blood glucose control. We assessed the effect of insulin and metformin administration on the wound healing process in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

METHODS

The study was conducted on 200 male Wistar rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. In the last phase of the study, 45 rats, with the most stable glucose levels in the range of 350-500 mg/dL, were divided into three groups: group I received human non-protamine insulin subcutaneously (5 IU/kg body mass) once a day, group II received metformin intragastrically (500 mg/kg b.m.), and group III (control) was given saline subcutaneously. After 14 days of antidiabetic treatment, a 2 cm × 2 cm thin layer of skin was cut from each rat's dorsum and a 4 cm disk with a hole in its center was sewn in to stabilize the skin and standardize the healing process. The wound healing process was followed up for 9 days, with assessment every 3 days. Biopsy samples were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical assays.

RESULTS

Analysis of variance revealed significant influence of treatment type (insulin, control, or metformin) on the relative change in wound surface area. The wound healing process in rats treated with insulin was more effective than in the metformin and control groups. Wound tissue samples taken from the insulin-treated animals presented significantly lower levels of inflammatory infiltration. Immunohistochemical assessment showed the greatest density of centers of proliferation Ki-67 in insulin-treated animals.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that an insulin-based treatment is more beneficial than metformin, in terms of accelerating the wound healing process in an animal model of streptozocin-induced diabetes.

The Role of Ki67 in Evaluating Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy of Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Ki67 is a proliferation marker. It has been proposed as a useful clinical marker for breast cancer subtype classification, prognosis, and prediction of therapeutic response. But the questionable analytical validity of Ki67 prevents its widespread adoption of these measures for treatment decisions in breast cancer. Currently, Ki67 has been tested as a predictive marker for chemotherapy using clinical and pathological response as endpoints in neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. Ki67 can be used as a predictor to evaluate the recurrence-free survival rate of patients, or its change can be used to predict the preoperative "window of opportunity" in neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. In this review, we will elaborate on the role of Ki67 in neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer.

miR-21-5p promotes cell proliferation by targeting BCL11B in Thp-1 cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous disease that remains untreatable. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of leukemia. miR-21 is highly expressed in multiple types of human cancer and displays oncogenic activities; however, the clinical significance of miR-21 in AML remains unclear. In the present study, it was demonstrated that miR-21 levels were high in patients with AML and in AML cell lines. Further experiments demonstrated that overexpression of miR-21 in Thp-1 human monocytes derived from acute mononuclear leukemia peripheral blood promoted cell proliferation, while downregulation of miR-21-5p, a mature sequence derived from the 5' end of the miR-21 stem-loop precursor (another mature sequence, miR-21-3p, is derived form 3' end of miR-21), inhibited cell proliferation. Specifically, it was observed that overexpression of miR-21 could promote the transition of Thp-1 cells into the S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle, as shown by flow cytometry. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-21-5p arrested cells in the S and G2/M phases. Finally, BCL11B was determined to be a functional target of miR-21-5p by luciferase assays. Our study revealed functional and mechanistic associations between miR-21 and BCL11B in Thp-1 cells, which could serve to guide clinical treatment of AML.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0008003 facilitates tumorigenesis and development of non-small cell lung carcinoma via modulating miR-488/ZNF281 axis

As one of the most aggressive malignancies, non‐small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) has high risks of death. It has been demonstrated that circRNAs accelerate NSCLC progression, but the underlying molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in NSCLC were still obscure. In the first place, the circRNA microarray of NSCLC was investigated in this study, and hsa_circ_0008003 (circ‐0008003) was chosen as the research object. Then, it was unveiled that the expression of circ‐0008003 examined via qRT‐PCR was elevated in tumour tissues relative to the non‐tumour tissues, which was associated with TNM stage and lymphatic metastasis in NSCLC. Additionally, the prognosis of NSCLC patients with high circ‐0008003 level was poor. Besides, circ‐0008003 silencing dampened the invasion and proliferation of NSCLC cells. Next, according to the mechanistic studies, circ‐0008003 functioned as a ceRNA of ZNF281 in NSCLC by acting as the endogenous sponge for miR‐488, which was proved to be a tumour suppressor in NSCLC. Additionally, ZNF281 overexpression and miR‐488 suppression recovered the influences of repressed circ‐0008003 on NSCLC cellular processes. It was validated in this research that circ‐0008003 triggered tumour formation in NSCLC, which was adjusted via miR‐488/ZNF281 axis, casting a novel light on the resultful target for treating NSCLC and predicting the prognosis.

MiR-96-5p Induced by Palmitic Acid Suppresses the Myogenic Differentiation of C2C12 Myoblasts by Targeting FHL1

Skeletal myogenesis is a multi-stage process that includes the cell cycle exit, myogenic transcriptional activation, and morphological changes to form multinucleated myofibers. Recent studies have shown that saturated fatty acids (SFA) and miRNAs play crucial roles in myogenesis and muscle homeostasis. Nevertheless, the target molecules and myogenic regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs are largely unknown, particularly when myogenesis is dysregulated by SFA deposition. This study investigated the critical role played by miR-96-5p on the myogenic differentiation in C2C12 myoblasts. Long-chain SFA palmitic acid (PA) significantly reduced FHL1 expression and inhibited the myogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts but induced miR-96-5p expression. The knockdown of FHL1 by siRNA stimulated cell proliferation and inhibited myogenic differentiation of myoblasts. Interestingly, miR-96-5p suppressed FHL1 expression by directly targeting the 3’UTR of FHL1 mRNA. The transfection of an miR-96-5p mimic upregulated the expressions of cell cycle-related genes, such as PCNA, CCNB1, and CCND1, and increased myoblast proliferation. Moreover, the miR-96-5p mimic inhibited the expressions of myogenic factors, such as myoblast determination protein (MyoD), myogenin (MyoG), myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C), and myosin heavy chain (MyHC), and dramatically impeded differentiation and fusion of myoblasts. Overall, this study highlights the role of miR-96-5p in myogenesis via FHL1 suppression and suggests a novel regulatory mechanism for myogenesis mediated by miRNA in a background of obesity.

Research Progress on the Anti-Cancer Molecular Mechanisms of Huaier

Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr), a Chinese traditional herb of medicine, has demonstrated promising curative effects in clinical treatment for various tumors. There are documented experiments showing the biological functions of Huaier with its antineoplastic molecular mechanisms: restraining proliferation and metastasis, arresting cell cycle, inducing apoptosis, pyrosis, and autophagy, anti-intratumoral angiogenesis, attenuating characteristics of tumor stem-like cells, interfering with the function of the tumor-related immune system, reversing drug resistance, and enhancing the sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, etc. In addition, studies suggest that non-coding RNA (ncRNA) acts a pivotal part in cancer occurrence and development, and demonstrates that Huaier adjusts the performance of certain lncRNA (long non-coding RNA) and proceeds to affect the microRNA and its target genes, rendering an anti-tumor effect. Huaier also modulates the expression of lncRNA to attenuate the activity of ncRNA-sponged microRNA and then inhibits the expression of downstream target genes. We summarize and illustrate the experimentally confirmed anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of Huaier, to inspire new ideas for researchers in relevant fields.

LncRNA TMPO-AS1 Promotes Proliferation and Invasion by Sponging miR-383-5p in Glioma Cells

Purpose

Glioma is one of the most common malignant tumors affecting human health. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) TMPO-AS1 participates in the pathogenesis of various cancers. However, the role of lncRNA TMPO-AS1 in glioma remains largely unknown. This study aims to uncover the role of TMPO-AS1 and explore its potential mechanism in glioma.

Methods

Expression levels of TMPO-AS1 and miR-383-5p in glioma cell lines were measured by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). CCK-8, colony formation, wound-healing, and Transwell assays were conducted to determine cell proliferation, migration and invasion abilities, respectively. Western blotting was applied to detect the expression of corresponding proteins. Immunofluorescence assay was performed to measure the expression of Ki67. The binding condition between TMPO-AS1 and miR-383-5p was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

We found that TMPO-AS1 was up-regulated while miR-383-5p was down-regulated in glioma cell lines, and knockdown of TMPO-AS1 significantly suppressed glioma cell proliferation, migration and invasion abilities. miR-383-5p was demonstrated to be a direct target of TMPO-AS1. Besides, inhibition of miR-383-5p abolished the effects of TMPO-AS1 knockdown on glioma cells.

Conclusion

In summary, our study revealed that inhibition of lncRNA TMPO-AS1 could suppress glioma progression through targeting miR-383-5p. TMPO-AS1 might be used as a therapeutic target for glioma treatment.

Long-term myofibroblast persistence in the capsular bag contributes to the late spontaneous in-the-bag intraocular lens dislocation

Late spontaneous in-the-bag intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation is a complication presenting 6 months or later after cataract surgery. We aimed to characterize the cells in the lens capsules (LCs) of 18 patients with spontaneous late in-the-bag IOL dislocation. Patients' average age was 82.6 ± 1.5 years (range 72-98), and most of them had pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX). Cells from the LCs were positive for myofibroblast (αSMA), proliferation (Ki-67, PCNA), early lens development/lens progenitor (SOX2, PAX6), chemokine receptor (CXCR4), and transmembrane (N-cadherin) markers, while negative for epithelial (E-cadherin) marker. Moreover, the cells produced abundant fibronectin, type I and type V collagen in the nearby extracellular matrix (ECM). During ex vivo cultivation of dislocated IOL-LCs in toto, the cells proliferated and likely migrated onto the IOL's anterior side. EdU proliferation assay confirmed the proliferation potential of the myofibroblasts (MFBs) in dislocated IOL-LCs. Primary cultured lens epithelial cells/MFBs isolated from the LC of dislocated IOLs could induce collagen matrix contraction and continuously proliferated, migrated, and induced ECM remodeling. Taken together, this indicates that long-lived MFBs of dislocated IOLs might contribute to the pathogenic mechanisms in late in-the-bag IOL dislocation.

From a Medicinal Mushroom Blend a Direct Anticancer Effect on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Preclinical Study on Lung Metastases

Bioactive metabolites isolated from medicinal mushrooms (MM) used as supportive treatment in conventional oncology have recently gained interest. Acting as anticancer agents, they interfere with tumor cells and microenvironment (TME), disturbing cancer development/progression. Nonetheless, their action mechanisms still need to be elucidated. Recently, using a 4T1 triple-negative mouse BC model, we demonstrated that supplementation with Micotherapy U-Care, a MM blend, produced a striking reduction of lung metastases density/number, paralleled by decreased inflammation and oxidative stress both in TME and metastases, together with QoL amelioration. We hypothesized that these effects could be due to either a direct anticancer effect and/or to a secondary/indirect impact of Micotherapy U-Care on systemic inflammation/immunomodulation. To address this question, we presently focused on apoptosis/proliferation, investigating specific molecules, i.e., PARP1, p53, BAX, Bcl2, and PCNA, whose critical role in BC is well recognized. We revealed that Micotherapy U-Care is effective to influence balance between cell death and proliferation, which appeared strictly interconnected and inversely related (p53/Bax vs. Bcl2/PARP1/PCNA expression trends). MM blend displayed a direct effect, with different efficacy extent on cancer cells and TME, forcing tumor cells to apoptosis. Yet again, this study supports the potential of MM extracts, as adjuvant supplement in the TNBC management.